บท 39: Chapter 39: It's a hybrid. Exactly your type

Meanwhile at W Tower, housing one of West City's premier corporation, a group of four other bachelors invaded a certain executive's office brazenly causing ruckus while one particular significant person was still busy signing off documents as tons of other pending papers were neatly stacked on top of his table. The man behind the desk was completely ignoring the commotion and could not care less with the irksome presence of the four guys who were chattering nonsense and nonstop as if they did not have any intention of leaving anytime soon. They even looked rather comfortable on their seats as if they were in some other place hanging out instead.

Moments passed and the noise around grew even louder. Liam felt his nerves twitching as his patience is wearing thin by the minute. He was already regretting the idea of granting his secretary permission to let these men enter his personal office without a previous appointment.

Liam could no longer focus his attention back at work because of the sudden surge of migraine and hunger. He felt it was too early go home yet but he needed to find an excuse to leave the office and rid off these four men disrupting his working momentum.

He massaged his temples in frustration before finally being able to speak.

"Get out all of you."

...

A low but frosty voice suddenly erupted inside the office rendering everybody around mute in an instant. They froze in their seats. All four of them felt the prominent chills in Liam's voice making them shiver in fear.

One meek voice quickly recovered and countered, "C'mon Bro, we're just consoling this nomadic guy right here who is about to say goodbye from being a bachelor."

The three others shot Craig, the one who have just spoken, with a look that seems to praise his bravery for speaking against the almighty business tycoon.

With a blank expression, Liam replied, "Congratulations."

Silence.

Everybody was dumbfounded with Liam's cold but witty response.

'Pfffttt ...'

His cold and dispirited announcement made both Karl and Eric suddenly burst into laughter.

While Paul, the person in question and to whom the supposed greeting was directed to, felt all the more terrible with the realization of the fact that he was really about to be married off to someone he doesn't even know. He gritted his teeth while shooting deathly glares towards the guys who were making fun of his sudden misfortune. He was absolutely against the marriage arrangement set-up by both his parents and that "ojou-sama's" parents. There was no family tradition dictating that he should abide with such cliche arrangement but what can he do? He does not possess enough power to influence his parents to reject the idea but he was currently buying himself enough time to avoid and delay the impending engagement between him and his noble and wealthy 'omiai' partner.

'Damn!' He wasn't even japanese for goodness sake!

Paul looked like he aged since his parents broke the news of his arranged marriage with an old and loyal business partner from overseas.

...

Craig who was sitting beside Paul was patting his shoulder while stifling his own laughter to comfort his dear brother who was being bullied as of the moment. He was closest to Paul out of the rest so he was the first one to know about his circumstances. But he knew exactly that the man have no intention of getting married yet. Actually, Craig believed he have no plans of marrying at all. He knew for a fact that Paul was indeed a vagabond both literally and figuratively. The only heir to the country's leading airline company despised monotony the most. Paul gets bored so easily. He was always wandering around. Loitering around. But still a businessman at heart. It was just unfortunate that he was about to be forced to tie the knot with a woman he barely know at all. This was probably a calculated move by his parents as punishment for their son's wild behavior.

...

Craig: "It might not be bad at all you know. Auntie said she was a well-cultured woman, delicate, gentle, obedient and very good looking." He smirked with the thought. He saw the woman's picture once and he must give it to her. The woman was as beautiful as a precious doll. She was half american and half japanese, a good match for Paul who is purely American but a Filipino at heart. He was the most reserved out of all of them. This is probably why he was completely against the idea of becoming a husband.

Karl: "Craig has a point. She's wife material. Why don't you give her a chance?"

Eric: "Well, you have literally two options. Marriage or Disinheritance. It sounds too cliche but this is the truth you have to face. Aren't you glad your parents are permanently kicking you out of the house?"

Paul: "Shut it. You mama's boy."

Eric: "Hmp! Atleast i have my mom to back me up everytime and she never forces me to do anything. She supports and respects my freedom."

Karl: "What freedom? Quit bragging you player. Liam, how about you let out a few words to Auntie Clarisse. She only listens to you since she looked up to you the most."

Another round of silence.

They all thought Liam was not interested with sharing his insights regarding Paul's upcoming 'marriage' but he suddenly casted a glance at Paul and spoke with a deadpan face.

"Best wishes."

...

Back at The Cube.

Laurice and Catherine had just arrived at the buffet restaurant inside the night club where the latter had a previous booking for their supposed dinner.

They both chatted longer than expected and realized it was getting late already and that they were both getting hungry themselves, especially Laurice so they immediately went another floor down to what presumably is the most expensive restaurant in the entire building.

An entire splurge of western and eastern cuisine were being offered by the restaurant alone.

Many tables were already occupied when they've reached the place and Laurice felt her stomach grumbled when she smelled the sumptuous dishes waiting for her to guzzle.

She was about to leave her seat and head towards the chafing dishes when Catherine whispered.

"Hot guy alert. 3 o'clock." Catherine muttered under her breath. Her slightly opened lips did not move at all. She just darted right straight into Laurice's eyes when she spoke almost inaudibly. She have already spotted the man long before they sat on their assigned table. The gorgeous guy seemed like a mixed race.

Laurice rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Give me a break." She was really about to pull up from her seat when Catherine spoke again.

"It's a hybrid. Exactly your type." She teased. Her eyes were shining brightly but her lips were pursed as if she wasn't smiling at her at all but she knew better.

Laurice was rendered speechless.

Her friend was unknowingly turning into an annoying matchmaker.

...

Laurice have no idea that the same man has long noticed the both of them the moment they step inside the restaurant together. Who wouldn't when they are undeniably a pair of natural beauties who looked like a breath of fresh air among a crowd of women who had the same tacky makeup, signature clothing, intense fragrance, and flamboyant behavior. They were unconsciously drawing every man's attention that eventually and evidently triggered the other women's jealousy and resentment.

***

Author's Remarks:

"ojou-sama" is a fomal japanese word which basically means 'young lady' while "omiai" literally translates to 'looking at one another' or most commonly known as a sort of matchmaking procedure. An 'omiai partner' is basically understood as 'marriage partner' in japanese.